In the late 16th century AD Catholic Spain under Philip II was the most powerful nation in Europe. Elizabeth I had angered Philip by helping the Protestant Netherlands fight for independence from Spain. English privateers also made constant attacks on Spanish ships in the New World. The execution of the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots in 1587 finally made Philip decide to invade Britain.

In 1588, a huge fleet (armada) of Spanish warships sailed north from La Coruña. The Armada appeared off the Lizard Point in Cornwall, in perfect crescent formation, on 29th of July. It was only broken twice by the English before it reached Calais on 6th of August. Here it failed to meet Spanish forces from the Netherlands, who had been blockaded by the Dutch navy. The following night English fire ships caused havoc among the tightly-packed Spanish vessels. A battle off Gravelines next day led to heavy Spanish losses as the small but more manoeuvrable English ships used their superior guns to devastating effect. Bad weather drove the now scattered Armada into the North Sea, round Scotland and Ireland.

Although the weather had finished off the Armada, England gained great international prestige from the defeat of the Spanish. The English admirals Howard, Effingham, Drake and Raleigh became legendary heroes.